*This date is also commemorated at the United Nations. It celebrates the economic, political and social achievements of women. The idea of an international women's day was first put forward at the turn of the 20th century amid rapid world industrialization and economic expansion that led to protests over working conditions. Women from clothing and textile factories staged one such protest on 8 March 1857 in New York City. ***work on weekends and non-working holidays is not overtime work.